Rockshots Records and Lay Of The Autumn are excited to announce the release of their next single, ‘Lost In Your Eyes’ from their highly anticipated album Of Love And Sorrow due out on October 25. This powerful and energetic track blends orchestral and electronic elements, capturing the moment when you look into someone’s eyes and get lost in a universe of stars.

FROZEN CROWN have released a new music video. The new music video, for the track ‘I Am The Wind’, is taken from the Italian power metal band’s new album, War Hearts, out now via Napalm Records. Speaking about the new song, the band shares, “’I Am The Wind’ marks the return of ‘the Tyrant’ and serves as a spiritual successor to our popular song, with Federico once again sharing lead vocalist duties with our frontwoman Jade. Running at a slower speed than the other songs on the album, this track depicts the inexorable march of a threatening army and the relentless fury of elements.” [via Distorted Sound]

Welsh four-piece Dream State have released their new single ‘Bloom’. The track marks the band’s first new music since their EP Still Dreaming, which was self-released earlier this year, and coincides with their UK headline tour. Speaking about the new single, vocalist Jessie Powell says: “We’re all excited to showcase some more new material after ‘Still Dreaming’. This single represents more of our exploration into different genres but still keeping the original Dream State charm alive. “I vividly remember Aled and I jamming the verse riff in an Air BnB somewhere in Germany. It started with rhythmic ideas and I think that stands for a lot of the track with its Drum & Bass and Latin influence too. Aled does his thing and finishes off the demo, then the vocals and drums get developed after. Lyrically, the song is about how much the fans’ support means to us all, but how with each step we take there’s a greater feeling of pressure which can sometimes make it difficult to enjoy the present moment. It’s hard not to look to the next show, tour or studio session and you can quite easily get wrapped up in anticipating what’s next instead of what’s right in front of you.” [via Dork]

Arch Enemy is now streaming the fairly thrashy (and occasionally catchy) new single ‘Liars & Thieves’, which also serves as the closer for their upcoming record Blood Dynasty. Which you’ve already heard if you’ve seen Arch Enemy live lately – they’ve been playing it a bunch. “Our second single from Blood Dynasty is here,” Said Arch Enemy guitarist Michael Amott. “‘Liars & Thieves’ is a fast, heavy-hitting track, with a melody that’s been getting stuck in people’s heads — don’t say I didn’t warn you! We’ve been playing it live recently, and it’s been an absolute beast in the pit. Now, it’s time to check out the studio cut!” He continues, “The accompanying video has been captured out here on our ongoing European tour by director Jens De Vos, highlighting the passion and metal madness of these amazing shows where fans and band are one!” [via Metal Injection]

Dianne van Giersbergen, former Xandria vocalist, has released a video for her latest single, ‘Flameborn.’ The track is taken from her upcoming album Soulward Bound, which she is releasing under her own name, Dianne. Produced by Joost van den Broek (Powerwolf, Epica, Ayreon), each song on the album features a renowned guest musician. ‘Flameborn’ is a symphonic metal anthem, blending haunting vocals, orchestral melodies, heavy riffing, and double bass. It tells an autobiographical story about restoring a lost friendship, dedicated to Steven Wussow (ex-Xandria), who also plays bass on the track. The song features Marcela Bovio (Stream of Passion, Ayreon, MaYaN), whose operatic vocals combine seamlessly with Dianne’s. Dianne comments: “‘Flameborn’ is an autobiographical story about restoring a lost friendship. It’s dedicated to my dear friend and ex Xandria band member, Steven Wussow, who also performs bass guitar on this song. To give ‘Flameborn’ an even deeper meaning, I’ve invited my dear friend and vocalist extraordinaire, Marcela Bovio. The duet that “Flameborn” has become is the seal to our friendship and can only be described as classical vocal firework!” [via Metal Insider]

Wargasm are back with not one but two new songs, ‘Circle Pit’ and ‘Bad Seeds,’ their first releases since this summer’s collaborative single with Slipknot’s Corey Taylor, ‘70% Dead.’ True to form, the new tracks find the U.K. electro-punk duo — comprised to Milkie Way and Sam Matlock — in hyperkinetic, fuck-the-world form. Take in the madness via Wargasm’s new two-song music video, complete with biker gangs and desert-set rock-outs, below. “The world is apathetic and lonely, and music is our coping mechanism,” Way and Matlock commented in a joint statement. “Anger is our energy. ‘Circle Pit’ (a rework of a track our Japanese family might already know) is all about the cycle. You can’t break it, so why be part of it? Get in the pit, come out to the coast have a few laughs. ‘Bad Seed’ on the other hand… that’s for those that choose to make the cycle worse. People who waste time being small and hating when there’s so much to create. We’re going back to the start. There’s an intimate club tour coming up that craved some new riffs.” [via Revolver]

Leeds crosssover thrashers Pest Control turned a lot of heads last year with Don’t Test The Pest, a fiery debut LP that caused one reviewer to claim “not since Power Trip has the marriage of thrash and hardcore been as pertinent as it is here.” Now, the Leeds band is keeping the momentum going with a new EP, Year of the Pest, due next week (10/25) via Quality Control/Triple B. It’s got four songs, two of which are out now, and they’re both rippers. Picking up where the LP left off, it’s got fast punk energy, devil-horn-worthy riffage, and the impassioned screams of vocalist Leah Massey-Hay leading the charge. [via Brooklyn Vegan]

Brighton’s electronic post-hardcore duo fakeyourdeath have today released a brand-new A/B side – the follow up to the pairs debut EP null/void. The A/B side features the vicious new single ‘Hello, I’m Feeling Hostile’ and it’s haunting B-side ‘The Was Actually Quite Murderous’ both of which look towards the pain humans inflict on each other to serve themselves; a subject fakeyourdeath find fascinating but always unsurprising. “‘Hello, I’m Feeling Hostile’ is an important track for me both musically & emotionally”, opens fakeyourdeath vocalist Candi Underwood. “At its core, it’s the outpouring of the grief, anger and disgust you feel when those closest to you betray you. It’s unapologetic, more vulnerable than we’ve gone before and almost cruel at times. It’s ugly but I love it”

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Living Dead Girl — the pop-metal project helmed by powerhouse vocalist-bandleader Molly Rennick — are about to kick off a big North American tour, and on the eve of the first date, they teamed with Revolver to premiere the new video for their biting March single ‘Ugly.’ Rennick previously described Living Dead Girl as representing the two sides of her split personality — “one wears baby pink and Hello Kitty and listens to pop music, and the other a goth girl in fishnet stockings” — and the ‘Ugly’ video follows suit. It’s at once silly and violent, cutesy and incisive, delivering its social commentary in a fun, splatstick package. “‘Ugly’ is a song I wrote from a place of frustration, knowing many fellow women could relate,” Rennick tells Revolver. “It’s about wanting to be taken seriously for your contributions and skills without being objectified or undermined in any profession or passion. When it came to making a music video, we wanted to bring that idea to life, but in true Living Dead Girl form, it still needed to have an element of fun and humor. Even with a serious message, we still are a band that likes to have fun in everything we do. I paid some subtle homage to The Powerpuff Girls and their message of girl power and empowerment, while playing into the aesthetic of a campy horror movie. All while tying it into a gym setting: the place in which every woman just wants to be left alone!” [via Revolver]

New England extreme-metal faction Escuela Grind have officially confirmed a full-length is likewise hitting us later this fall. The band’s Dreams on Algorithms is due out October 18, but they’re previewing it ahead of time with a fittingly disorienting single called ‘Turbulence.’ ‘Turbulence’ shakes things up a bit for Escuela Grind, marking the first time Economou has brought clean singing into the band’s discography. Then again, after a brief bit of Alice in Chains-esque doom-grungin’, the song incorporates a more shrieked and grind-blitzed pace. “It will be immediately obvious when you first hear this song that it is a departure for us,” the vocalist added. “We wanted to take a risk with ‘Turbulence,’ and after performing so many live shows over the last year we were ready to compile all that influence. The clean singing may take some people off-guard coming from a grind/hardcore band, but after touring with Napalm Death, we realized we wanted to incorporate that aspect into our music in a similar way. We definitely wanted a grungy, catchy chorus to sing at all of our upcoming festival appearances, and I hope the fans like the song as much as we do.” [via Revolver]

Entheos released their second full-length album Time Will Take Us All in 2023 and they’re already back with a brand new EP! Entheos will release An End To Everything on October 25 and is now streaming the single ‘All For Nothing’ alongside a music video directed by David Brodsky for My Good Eye: Music Visuals. [via Metal Injection]

Astonishing singer-songwriter CHARLOTTE WESSELS (ex-DELAIN) has joined forces with Simone Simons of Epica for her mesmerizing new single entitled ‘Dopamine.’ This track is part of Wessels’ first traditional full-length, full-band solo album, The Obsession, set to be released on September 20 via Napalm Records. Promising a deeply immersive and evocative experience, the two Dutch symphonic metal legends guide listeners through the emotional landscape of SSRI-induced numbness. The Obsession showcases WESSELS’ most mature work to date, blending progressive and heavier soundscapes with catchy elements. CHARLOTTE WESSELS on ‘Dopamine’: “Lyrically, ´Dopamine´ deals with SSRI induced numbness that I experienced a few years ago when I was on Sertraline, a type of antidepressant. While the medication was really helpful, there were so many side effects that I’d never heard of. This song deals with some of them, and while it feels vulnerable to expose the experience, I hope it helps in breaking down the shame and taboo around the topic. Simone reached out to me as I was first opening up about this in an interview, and when the first version of ´Dopamine´ dropped on Patreon (because of course we’re each other’s patrons) she texted how much she liked the song. So when we were working on the album version it only made sense to ask if she’d sing along on the track. I am so happy she agreed and after all of the shared introspection, it was great fun to let loose wearing pink wigs in ball pits and marshmallow pools for the video recordings. Musically, out of the entire new album, ´Dopamine´ went through the biggest transformation. What started out as an EDM demo for a collaboration with a dance duo that never happened, became an acoustic Song Of The Month on Patreon, which then had a massive overhaul when rearranging it with Timo. The new band version is an absolute banger, and the beautiful guest vocals by Simone complete the song.” [via Outburn]

ENEMY INSIDE have released a new music video. The new music video, for the track ‘What We Used To Be’, is the brand new single from the German alternative/symphonic metal band and marks their first new music since 2021’s Seven. Speaking about the new song, vocalist Nastassja Giulia says, “’What We Used To Be’ deals with the topic of a relationship growing apart: whether it’s a romantic relationship, a friendship, or the relationship with yourself. It’s about realising and accepting that situations and people, even yourself, change, and there is no other way than to move on.” Filmed by Jonas Sommer, the music video’s script and story was written by the front-woman herself. She adds, “we were aiming for a cinematic look. We wanted a video that looked more like a movie than a music video and we are really proud how the song and the video turned out.” [via Distorted Sound]

Without Warning, a promising modern metal act from Finland has unleashed their new single ‘Pulse’ with an additional music video. The new single is infused with inspiration from the German underground rave scene, immersing the listener with a sonic landscape filled with industrial sounds and heavy rave elements. ‘Pulse’ vibrates with intensity and infectious rhythms that are a core element in the German rave scenes. The song blends the ferocity of modern metal with the hypnotic allure of underground rave culture. Without Warning invites listeners to immerse themselves in a world where man and machine collide. “The song instantly made me think of an underground rave. An experience where you fully emerge yourself in the rhythm and it becomes synchronized with your pulse, which inspired the song name. With each song we really drive into the surrounding, the emotion and story. ‘Pulse’ showcases Without Warning as a whole, who we are and what our identity is about. It is no coincidence that we wanted to include inspiration from Germany particularly. Germans have a really talented and amazing metal scene, and they have always supported Finnish metal. We’re excited to build a stronger bond with them.” Says vocalist Michaela “Micha” Tuomenoksa. At its core, ‘Pulse’ explores the enigmatic relationship between humanity and technology. Reflecting the interesting and futuristic lore Without Warning has created. ‘Pulse’ is blurring the boundaries between organic and artificial life. With the song, Without Warning aims to capture the essence of the rave experience with a cacophony of sound and intense emotion. “I had a vision about a techno infused song with an intense beat, electronic soundscape and of course a signature touch representing our style. A lot of things happen through the song and it took a while to find the balance. But with efficient teamwork among the band we produced the song as visioned and hope to see ‘Pulse’ make a strong impact on listeners.” Says guitarist and producer Juuso Javanainen. [via Click Roll Boom]

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Ready to pop off in 2023, dynamic London-based duo WARGASM serve up an explosive and energetic new single entitled ‘Bang Ya Head’ [feat. Fred Durst of Limp Bizkit]. It only heightens anticipation for the arrival of their anxiously awaited debut album Venom on October 27. On the new song WARGASM said: “When I was working in bars it always drove me insane how much it costs us to live, and how little money we make. The worlds going fucking crazy and everything’s getting so expensive – how the fuck are we meant to buy a life? It’s just this nightmare cycle until you get lucky. Like banging your head against a brick wall over and over and over – you bang your head until you break your fucking neck. We took that energy and put it onto a guitar at our friend’s house in LA, then a microphone in a bathroom somewhere so the neighbors weren’t too pissed off, then we asked the one and only Fred Durst if he wanted to join in and he did – now we have this monstrosity. We’ve been waiting so damn long for you to hear this……” ‘Bang Ya Head’ distills WARGASM’s controlled chaos into a focused and frenetic burst of energy. The track itself bounces between glitchy rave-ready electronics, gnashing teeth-gritting guitars, and quotable rhymes only to culminate on a lyrical volley between Milkie Way and Fred. He urges, “Keep banging your head until you’re breaking your neck.” Milkie counters with a nod to Bizkit’s classic ‘My Generation’ with the warning, “You’re in the jungle punk!” After the band opened for Limp Bizkit last year on their 2022 tour they teamed up on the soon to be iconic track.

Italian / Malaysian-based band Silent Angel is ready to reveal its first single ‘Against The Tides’ off their first full-length Unyielding, Unrelenting to be released on Rockshots Records this coming November. “This tune was one of the last songs I wrote for the record. It was written during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic that brought the world to its knees back in 2020 – 2022 and subsequently the invasion of Ukraine. I was toying around with the riff and rhythm structure for quite some time. Seeing friends across the world, family and relatives fall victim to the effects of the pandemic drove me to pen the lyrics as a means to inspire any and everyone afflicted to stand strong and persevere. Never to give up in the face of insurmountable odds.“ adds guitarist Eric “StormBlade” Poon.

The Oakland duo Ragana play doomy blackened screamo, or something like that. They announced their new album Desolation’s Flower last month by sharing its opener and title track. Now the duo has another preview to offer. ‘DTA’ begins with clean guitars, lots of open space in the mix, and sweetly sung vocals far poppier than I expected. “I am a mystery, even to myself,” begins the first verse. “I look in the mirror see someone else.” Eventually it explodes into something much harsher and noisier and pulls off the transition quite nicely. [via Stereogum]

TERMINAL DUSK have unleashed the haunting music video for ‘Marionette’, the title track of their latest EP. The band comments: “‘Marionette’ follows the story of two lovers who’s relationship is built upon the control one has over the other. The Puppet Master continues to mold and sculpt his ‘love’ until he’s satisfied with her performance and she is able to take her place among all the other collectibles he keeps for others to admire. The song is emotionally and instrumentally intense, creating a unique and atmospheric sound that combines the grandeur of classical music, pulsing electronic music, and crushing guitars and percussion.” [via Metal Planet]

Norwegian punk band Blood Command have shared new track ‘Heaven’s Hate’. The new single might clock in at a little over a minute, but it certainly makes an impression within that time. ‘Heaven’s Hate’ is the latest single from the band’s forthcoming ‘World Domination’ album, which is set to arrive September 29. It follows the likes of previous releases ‘Forever Soldiers Of Esther’ and the Shakespeare-referencing ‘The Plague On Both Your Houses’. Describing the meaning of the new track, the band have shared: “Heaven’s Hate is a song about leeches of humanity, who will try and suck you dry of your talent. When they finally reveal their true colours and you see through them, you burn them and watch them bow down as you rise above.” [via Rocksound]

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Lacey Sturm has debuted a music video for her aggressively introspective new song ‘Reconcile’, a long-awaited follow-up to 2021’s ‘Awaken Love’. “My own humanity can be so divided. When I cling to my rights by pointing out the faults of others, I splinter myself. All of this division is rooted in my own pride,” Sturm shares. “Have I arrogantly supposed that I could somehow reconcile the world around me if I am not reconciled within myself?” Lacey’s personal process of looking inward to bring herself into congruence with her ultimate human purpose informs ‘Reconcile’. The track is an unflinching mirror held up to the uncomfortable ways in which she acknowledges her own contribution to the world’s brokenness through arrogant pride: personal pride, relational pride, religious pride. The accompanying music is equally visceral, with Josh Sturm’s careening guitar riffs and Lacey’s gut-punch vocals. The video is a visual representation of the singer’s inner fight for personal reconciliation. As always, the darker reflections are tempered by the hope that comes when she can integrate her ego’s death with the life that comes from resurrecting grace. Lacey says: “As soon as I cultivate peace within myself, the world around me starts falling into peace too— my kids, my family, my friends, the person at the checkout in the grocery store.” [via Blabbermouth]

Earlier this year, Svalbard released their single ‘Eternal Spirits,’ their first new track since the excellent 2020 album When I Die, Will I Get Better? Now, Svalbard have announced the impending release of their new LP The Weight Of The Mask. Svalbard recorded the new album with longtime collaborator Lewis Johns, and it’s all about turning depression into aggression. Svalbard have dropped the video for opening track ‘Faking It,’ which sounds tremendous. Here’s what bandleader Serena Cherry says about the track: “’Faking It’ is a song about feeling deprived of meaningful human connection due to depression acting like a wall that shuts you off from others. It addresses the ways in which those who suffer with depression can feel guilted into putting on a happy mask. The lyrics are a reflection on happiness as a social obligation and how scarily good you can become at deceiving everyone around you into thinking that you’re fine when you’re not. With ‘Faking It,’ we are both acknowledging the pressure for forced positivity, the fear that people won’t like you if you’re sad, and also questioning where the root of this intolerance towards depression lies.” [via Stereogum]

Hippie Death Cult is back with a crunchy new single ‘Arise’ and a new record Helichrysum due out on October 20. If you’re in the mood for slow-burning riffs and smoke vocals, then you’re gonna love this. “Lyrically, ‘Arise’ serves as a poignant reminder of the prevalence of grifters and self-proclaimed spiritual leaders who exploit vulnerable individuals searching for guidance, often leaving them even more disillusioned and adrift than before,” said bassist and vocalist Laura Philips. “The song narrates a tale of a devoted follower who finally sees through the charismatic manipulation and shatters the illusion. Another reminder to question everything and trust your own inner compass when navigating the path of truth.” [via Metal Injection]

Sweden’s female-fronted symphonic/industrial metal pioneers Rave The Reqviem are back with their new single ‘Doombreaker’, a catchier-than-catchy metal banger made to shake your core.With its perfect harmony between heavy shouts and beautiful female vocals, this track proves that Rave The Reqviem is back with vengeance, ready to claim their God-given right to the throne of symphonic/industrial metal. The song was written and produced by Filip Lönnqvist and the clip was directed by Petter Perseius and Daniel Yor Lindgren. [via Chaos Zine]

THE HELLFREAKS have released a new music video. The new music video, for the track ‘Rootless Soul Riot’, is taken from the Hungarian punk band’s latest studio album, Pitch Black Sunset, which was released back in April. Speaking about the song and its accompanying music video, the band says, “’Rootless Soul Riot’ is the ‘last and first’ music video to celebrate the release of our new album Pitch Black Sunset. This song was the very first video the band recorded for this album, and it’s the final one to be released from the tracklist… for now. Even back in high school, we always felt a deep camaraderie for the misfits, the freaks, and geeks – anyone that was not considered cool. That was our gang. That was our people. We gravitated towards them because these individuals were the ones who stood out, unlike the ‘cool kids’ who were too afraid to embrace uniqueness. In our eyes, the real souls with genuine hearts were the weirdos like us. That’s why our band, THE HELLFREAKS carry the name with purpose and see it as a badge of honor. Hand on heart, we all found solace in the community of metal, punk, or hardcore music because we rejected conformity and committed ourselves to living life on our own terms and being different personally and musically. We may not conform to any societal norms and definitely do not fit into one musical genre, but we have made it a point to be different because this is what we are.” [via Distorted Sound Mag]

Swedish symphonic dark metal powerhouse Eleine definitely have the world at their feet: Not only have they just been confirmed as support act for industrial metal icons Pain’s upcoming European tour, the group have also finally unleashed their long-awaited new opus We Shall Remain via Atomic Fire Records. In addition, Eleine has prepared another music video — this time for the album’s title track. Band founding members, lead singer Madeleine Liljestam and Rikard Ekberg (guitars, vocals), comment, “This song combines all important elements that Eleine are known for: Chuggy riffs, groovy rhythms as well as a smashing chorus while its empowering lyrics breathe the spirit our legions keep following us for.” [via Metal Underground]

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Dynamic London-based duo WARGASM uncover the explosive music video for their song ‘Super Fiend’. On ‘Super Fiend’ the band said: “Inspired by the bleakness of the 2000AD comic universe, the sound of slipknot and the way our society is moving: we wrote this song because we want to be left alone, free from fake friends and the posturing that can plague the relationships around us. It’s nice to be nice, but it’s also nice sometimes to just be. With the human experience comes a spectrum of emotions. Anger is energy, suck it up and feel how you feel.”

‘Off with their heads’ is the latest track from Nu Metal sister duo, Nyrobi & Chaya of ALT BLK ERA and they leave nothing in reserve! With an eccentric Alice in Wonderland theme, the song is about the Queen of Hearts’ rampage through life, in a delusional state of grandeur. In essence, there are two halves to this track which becomes more manic as it develops. Metal, Rap, Electronic sounds and fierce female vocals build throughout, leaving listeners describing it as ‘pure freedom & chaos’.

Finnish rockers Highway Queen’s debut full-length Bitter Soul is out now via Rockshots Records. For the album’s release day, the band shared their latest music video for the record’s opening track ‘Hey’, a classic 80’s style hard rock song that tells the story about feeling lust for someone, but you are unfortunately stonewalled.

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WARGASM releases latest single ‘Fukstar’ with an accompanying video. WARGASM are set to release their debut mixtape via slowplay/Republic Records. The video sees the band wreak havoc in the desert as they give us a taste of what’s to come next. Speaking on the track Wargasm said: “Every day the rich seem to get richer and the poor get left behind. Old men are flying off in rockets with celebrities while murdering our environment. Fukstar is the soundtrack to Wargasm’s disillusionment with the nature of the corporate billionaires, and the idiots that let them gain power, who seemingly have our world in a chokehold. You aren’t gods, you’re just another Fukstar x”

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The Sacramento-based quintet Graveshadow – who deftly mixes symphonic/gothic metal with elements of doom, thrash and epic progressive power metal – have unveiled ‘The Swordsman,’ the latest single from their forthcoming album, The Uncertain Hour. The band’s third album will be released July 15. ‘The Swordsman’ is also special as it features guest vocals from Chelsea Murphy (Dawn of Ouroboros, Cailleach Calling, Tegmentum). “I’m really excited to release ‘The Swordsman’ which has kind of snuck up on me as another favorite off the record, explains vocalist Rachl “Raxx” Quinn. “The interplay of the clean and harsh vocals was something I was thrilled with the outcome on. The way they support each other really adds a great dynamic to the song. As a band it was great to have Chelsea guest on the track, her performance is absolutely incredible!”

WARGASM announce their debut mixtape Explicit coming soon via slowplay/Republic Records. To celebrate the project’s announcement, Wargasm share the lead single ‘D.R.I.L.D.O’. with accompanying music video. The new track flitters between electronic and heavy metal as WARGASM give us a taste of what’s to come next. ‘D.R.I.L.D.O’ features a nocturnal bassline as Milkie leads us into a false sense of sultry security before Sam counters with his signature vocals and a fiery guitar riff to match. Speaking on the track “It’s a good bridge between the two elements of Wargasm, which are super fun, sexy, and electronic and also fresh and metal,” Sam continues. “You can clearly hear the both of us. We want there to be two characters in the music. You should have a favourite.”

Eternal Frequency has released a music video for their song ‘A.I.’. The clip is the second installment in the band’s Matrix-esque video series that kicked off with ‘Step Up’. They had this to say about the new video, “Drawing inspiration from cult classic films such as The Matrix, Blade Runner, and The Fifth Element, ‘AI’ offers a chaotic cinematic viewing experience and a look into the future, creating a high-intensity, action-packed visual.” Frontwoman Emelle shared, “‘A.I’ is the second installment of our epic trilogy and this picks up where ‘Step Up’ left off. ‘A.I.’ brings up the unavoidable challenge that every artist will eventually face and that is someone who is not part of your camp telling you what they think is best for you. It is about not conforming to anyone’s preconceived notion about you and refusing to be controlled by the system. This is our message to be who you are in your image alone.” [via Anti Music]

Conquer Divide have released the official music video for the band’s lead single from their upcoming new studio album. The song, ‘Atonement,’ was premiered by Sirius XM’s “Octane”. Guitarist Kristen Sturgis shares, “The song touches on feelings of regret, which we tried to convey in the video. You can see one of our other music videos in the reflection of the eye, for example. They’re watching the time tick by wondering what their life could have been like if they would have toughed it out and put the work in. The hardest things in life are the most rewarding, and life is short. So, if you’re not ready to meet us on our level, then get out of the way.” Drummer Sam Landa adds, “The word atonement is about making reparations; about seeking forgiveness; about feeling sorry for something you’ve done and hoping to make things right. In the context of this song, it’s too late for that – the damage has already been done and there’s no going back. The song tries to capture the feelings of betrayal, of being left high and dry by people who wanted to take the easy way out. The emotions really explode in the breakdown, and the progression mirrors how situations like this can build up in real life. There’s a kind of calm before the storm, and then another sense of calm after. ‘We don’t know who you are’, and we’ve accepted that – just don’t try to come back and beg for forgiveness when you’ve exhausted all of your chances.” [via All About the Rock]

We’re still a couple months out from Arch Enemy releasing their new album, Deceivers, but the Swedish melodeath troupe are back to tide us over with a crushing new single titled ‘Sunset Over the Empire.’ Compared to the Judas Priest-esque ‘Handshake With Hell’ and the galloping ‘House of Mirrors,’ this track is more in-line with the band’s death-metal origins — no clean vocals, no moody experimentation, just skull-crushing riffs and demonic vocals from frontwoman Alissa White-Gluz. “This is a faster song with some manic riffs and a relentless beat that I can envision becoming a ‘hit in the pit,'” said songwriter Michael Ammott. “Lyrically, it’s sadly one of those that seems to ring more true with each and every passing day nowadays…’Words turned to war, brother fighting brother, another false truce, as the people die.'” [via Revolver]

Blackwater Drowning is now streaming ‘Aberrant Leaves’ off their new album Sonder//Satori. If you’re in the mood for a song that’ll kick you right in the teeth and then never stop (think somewhere between Behemoth and Jinjer), and then this one is for you. “This song is about corruption in places of power, and the dichotomy that lies there,” said the band. “An entity that’s supposed to protect and serve you, using you for their own ends to further their own narrative. We worked with the fabulously creative Garrett Barefoot for this video, as he was also a major part of the recording process of this entire album and really understood what our mindset for this track is. We wrote the chorus in the studio with Jon Berrier, our amazing producer, hopped up on energy drinks at about 2am one night, and it’s one of our favorites on the album! We are incredibly proud of this finished product and hope it resonates with this current world climate as much as it does with us when we wrote it.” [via Metal Injection]

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